Valve for cylinder actuated ash tray



July 25, 1961 H. R. BOHNSACK VALVE FOR CYLINDER ACTUATED ASH TRAY Filed Sept. 24, 1956 w 1 9 s m W. w 1 m M RN N W m N A B 5 i mm m \P.W\\h$$; .5

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United States Patent O'fifice 2,993,491 Patented July 25, 1961 2,993,491 VALVE FOR CYLINDER ACTUATED ASH TRAY Harold R. Bohnsack, 2011 Yellowstone, Billings, Mont. Filed Sept. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 611,702 1 Claim. (Cl. 131-235) This invention relates to ash trays for motor vehicles, and in particular a tray slidably mounted in a housing that is positioned in and extends rearwardly of the instrument panel of a vehicle or on other types of devices with a cylinder extended from the rear of a housing and having a piston therein connected to the ash tray with a piston rod whereby with suction supplied through a manually actuated valve to the forward end of the cylinder the tray is driven outwardly and when the suction is applied to the opposite end of the cylinder the tray is retracted. At the same time air is exhausted by the suction from the ash tray for snufling cigarette butts and the like.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for operating a suction actuated ash tray in a motor vehicle whereby by turning a knob to one side a tray is extended for receiving ashes and by turning the knob to the opposite side the tray is retracted or drawn into the instrument panel.

This invention is an improvement over the automatic cigarette ash tray of my Patent No. 2,838,354 of June 10, 1958, in that a valve assembly which provides smoother operation of the tray is provided for, selectively, applying suction to opposite ends of the operating cylinder of the ash tray.

In the device of the patent a rod in an outer tube is turned to bring ports in registering relation for directing the suction to different ends of a cylinder, however, for efiicient operation of the device something additional is required and, to meet this problem, applicant developed the valve of this application. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates an ash receiver or tray slidably mounted in a housing and actuated by a piston in a cylinder extended from the housing and a valve assembly whereby suction of a tube connected to an intake manifold, or other part of an engine or to a pump is readily applied, by rotating the valve member, to opposite ends of the cylinder and also to the ash tray or housing thereof whereby air for combustion is exhausted from the tray.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a suction valve adapted to be connected to the suction of an internal combustion engine or to other means for supplying suction and a lever for actuating the valve whereby the suction is applied to ends of a cylinder and also to the housing in which an ash receiving tray is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction valve for actuating an ash receiving tray in which the device is adapted to be installed in instrument panels of vehicles now in use, or in or on other devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved suction valve for ash receivers in motor vehicles whereby the ash receiver is extended and retracted by suction in which the valve is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a mounting plate having an offset passage therethrough, a rotor having elongated slots therein positioned against the inner surface of the mounting plate, a rod rotatably mounted in the mounting plate and on which the rotor is positioned, a filter spaced from the rotor, a spacer, a casing positioned over the spacer, washer, and filter, resilient means for retaining the parts in assembled relation, a lever carried by an extended end of the rod, a housing upon which the mounting plate is carried, an ash receiving tray slidably rod connecting the piston to the ash receiving tray of the housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through the valve, ash receiver and housing thereof and also through the operating cylinder extended from the housing.

FIGURE 2 is a cross section through the valve assembly taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 and showing in elevation a spacer member of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section, taken on a line slightly in advance of the section line 2-2 and showing in elevation one position of a rotor that coacts with the spacer member of FIG. 2 and showing the positions of the ports for applying suction to the operating cylinder and also to the cigarette ash receiving tray housing for snuffing cigarettes, and showing other parts venting to the atmosphere.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section similar to that shown in FIG. 3 with the rotor in another position and also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale illustrating the positions of the ports with the suction applied to one end of the operating cylinder whereby the cigarette ash receiver is actuated to the extended position.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section through the valve assembly taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 also showing the suction applied to one end of the operating cylinder.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on line 66 of FIG. 1, showing the finger actuated lever for the control valve.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustran'ng the valve rotor and showing, in particular, the valve passages therethrough.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved suction valve assembly of this invention includes a mounting plate 10 adapted to be mounted on an end wall 11 of a cylindrical housing 12 in which an ash receiving tray 13 is positioned, a rotor 14 carried on the end of a stub shaft 15 rotatably mounted in the plate 10, a spacer 16, a disc 17 of filter material, a cover or casing 18 positioned over the disc, spacer, and rotor, and a cylinder 19 having a piston 20 therein, the piston being connected to the ash receiving tray 13 with a piston rod 21.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 suction is applied to the valve assembly through a tube 22 connected to the intake manifold or other part of the motor vehicle with the tube mounted on a nipple 23 extended from an elongated opening 24 in the mounting plate 10 and the opening 24 is positioned to register with an arcuate slot 25 in the rotor 14 whereby with the parts, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the arcuate slot 25 provides communicating means between an end 26 of the opening 24 that is within the mounting plate 10 and a passage 27 extending downwardly through the mounting plate and a nipple 270 extended from the passage 27 is connected by a tube 28 to a nipple 290 on the end 29 of the cylinder 19; and also connected by a restricted passage 32 in the mounting plate which extends downwardly through passage 30 in the mounting plate to an opening 31 that extends through the end wall 11 of the housing 12. The upper end of the passage 30 is in communication with the restricted cross connection 32 to provide communicating means between passage 30 and the end of the slot 25. The rotor 14 is provided with openings 33 and that are positioned to register with the passages 27 and 30, the opening 80 providing a connection to the opening 31, and connections thereto.

With the parts in the positions as illustrated in FIG. 3, the suction is applied to the end 29 of the cylinder 19 drawing the cigarette ash receiving tray 13 into the housing 12 and at the same time, evacuating tray 13 and housing 12 by drawing air through the restricted passage 32, around the peripheral portions of the tray 13, through passage 30 and opening 31 whereby cigarette butts or the like positioned in the tray are extinguished. Air also passes through filter 17, being cleaned thereby, thence into port 81, and through passage 36 to end of cylinder 78.

With the parts positioned as illustrated in FIG. 4 a suction connection formed with the tube 22, from the intake manifold of the engine or connected to suction from other sources connects a tube 34 to the end of the cylinder 19 adjacent the housing 12 with the arcuate slot 25 providing communicating means between the inner end 26 of the tube 22 and an inner end 35 of a connection 36 from which a nipple 37 on which the tube 34 is mounted is positioned thus permitting air to be withdrawn from end 78 of cylinder 19 causing the piston to actuate the tray to an extended position.

Thus with the parts in the position as shown in FIG. 4 as the air is withdrawn from the end 78 of the cylinder 19 air cleaned by filter 17 is admitted to the end 29 of the cylinder 19 through port hole 33, passage 27, and tube 28, simultaneously the air passes into port hole 80 downwardly through passage 30, and from the opening 31, into the tray housing 12 to actuate the tray to an extended position.

The mounting plate 10 is secured to the end wall 11 of tray housing 12 with screws 38 and the rotor 14 that is integral with the shaft 15 is urged against the mounting plate 10 with a spring 39 extended around the shaft 15 and positioned between a washer 40, positioned against the mounting plate 10 and a washer 41 that is retained on the rod with a cotter pin 42. The end of the shaft 15 extended through the bearing in the mounting plate 10 is provided with a slot 6 that is positioned to receive a flat key 46 extended from the end of rod 48. The opposite end of the rod 48 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 49 extended upwardly from'the housing 12 and the end of the rod is provided with a lever 50 by which the rod may be turned to shift the position of the rotor 14 whereby suction is applied to the forward end of the cylinder 19 for retracting the ash receiver and to the opposite end for extending the ash receiver. The rotor 14 is also provided with an arcuate slot 51 through which a pin 52 extends, the slot providing a port selector travel limiting means with the pin limiting rotary movement of the rotor or valve elements. Spacer 16 separates filter disc 17 from rotor ports.

The ash receiving tray 13 is connected by a latch 53 on the end of a rod 54 to a collar 55 on the inner end of the piston rod 21, which extends through a packing gland 100 and the tray is provided with a receiving opening 56 and a snuifer 57. Snuffer 57 is provided for use when the motor is not running and the tray is manually operated. The rod 54 is provided with an arm 58 having a button 59 at the upper end by which the rod may be rotated to release the latch 53 for detaching tray 13 from piston rod 21 for emptying contents thereof. The outer end of the ash receiving tray 13 is provided with a knob 60 to facilitate manual operation of the receiver when motor is not running.

The outer end of the tray 13 is provided with a head 61 that seats against tray housing 12 forming an air tight combustion proof container. The finger operating lever 50 is provided with platforms 62 and 63 on the ends of arms 64 and 65 respectively. The packing gland 100 in the opposite end of the housing 12 is provided with a nut 66 that is threaded into a nipple 67 extended from a head 69 of the cylinder 19 whereby packing 68 is retained in sealing relation with the shaft and the nipple 67 is threaded into a hub 70 extended from the end wall 11 of the housing 12.

The end 11 is also provided with a positioning bar 71 that extends through an opening 72 in the end 73 of the tray 13 for retaining the opening 56 of the tray 13 in an upwardly disposed position. A gasket 74 is provided between the end 11 of the housing 12 and the mounting plate 10 and gaskets 75 are positioned between the end caps 76 and 69 and the ends of the cylinder 19. The caps are provided with flanges which are threaded on the ends of the cylinder, the cap 76 having a flange 77 and the cap 69 having a similar flange 107.

The cigarette butt receiving tray 13 is substantially cylindrical, having a cylindrical wall to which the numeral 13 refers with an inner end Wall 73 at one end and an outer cover or wall 61 on the opposite end. The upper side of the cylindrical tray is provided with a cigarette butt receiving opening 56 and the edges of the cover 61 extend slightly over the outer surface of the cylindrical housing 12 in which the tray 13 is slidably mounted. The cover or end wall 61 of the tray is also provided with a knob 60 by which the tray may withdrawn manually. The inner surface of the outer end wall or cover 61 is provided with a liner 101 upon which the snuifer 57 is mounted. The tray is retained in the closed position by the latch 53 that snaps over the large inner end or collar 55 for locking the tray in the housing and that is actuated by the button 59 through the rod 54 for releasing the latch to permit outward movement of the tray.

The rod 48 is retained in position between the bearings 44 and 49 by the lever 50 on the outer end and the cotter pin 43 extended through the opposite end.

The rod 48 is rotated by the lever 50 and with the rod turned in one direction wherein the arcuate slot 25 in the rotor connects the suction tube 22 to the tube 28, suction is provided in one end of the cylinder 19, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 1, wherein the piston moves toward the end of the cylinder to which the tube 28 is connected and with the space behind the piston relieved by air through the tube 34 which opens through ports 81 into the air space between the rotor and disc 16 whereby air is drawn through the opening 85 in the disc or spacer 16, through the filter 17 and into the portion 78 of the cylinder. Upon rotation of the rod 48 by the lever 50 in the opposite direction, the parts assume the positions shown in FIGURE 4, wherein suction from the tube 22 is applied through the connection 25 to the tube 34, causing suction in the chamber 78 of the cylinder 19 and drawing the piston inwardly toward the ash tray chamber. In this movement air passes through opening 80 through the cross connection 32 and then through the passage 30 and opening 31 into the cylinder 12 whereby the ash tray cylinder is extended.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described the cigarette ash receiver is installed in the instrument panel of a motor vehicle with a cover or head 61 of the sliding tray 13 flush with the surface of the panel or attached in other manners. When it is desired to use the ash tray, platform of lever 50 is depressed so that the suction is applied to the end 78 of the cylinder 19 whereby the piston is drawn outwardly sliding the tray 13 to an extended position. After use platform on lever 50 is depressed in the position whereby, the suction is applied to the end 29 of the cylinder 19 whereby the suction draws the piston 20 toward the end 29 with the tray 13 sliding into the housing 12. In this movement suction is also applied to the interior of the housing and the tray 13 through the opening 56 therein, thus the burning cigarette butt is, consequently, extinguished. Although the housing is shown as being cylindrical it may be of any suitable shape.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In an ash receiver, the combination which comprises a cylindrical housing having an open end and a closed end,

a cylindrical ash receiving tray slidably mounted in the open end of the housing, said tray having a cigarette butt receiving opening in the upper surface and having a knob on the outer end, a cylinder extended from and connected to the closed end of the housing and aligned therewith, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod extended from the piston through the end of the cylinder connected to the closed end of the housing, releasable means for connecting the piston rod to the ash receiving tray, a mounting plate secured to and extended upwardly from the cylindrical housing, a bearing extended upwardly from one end of the housing and aligned with a bearing in the mounting plate, a rod rotatably mounted in the bearing of the housing and mounting plates, platforms extended upwardly from the rod and rotatably mounted in the bearings, a rotor secured to the rod and positioned against the mounting plate, a casing providing a closure for the rotor, resilient means for urging the rotor against the surface of the mounting plate, a suction connection extended from the mounting plate, suction connections extended from the closure of the rotor to opposite ends of said cylinder, a suction connection from the mounting plate to the inner end of the cylindrical housing in which the ash receiving tray is positioned, and a filter in the closure enclosing the rotor, said suction connections being positioned to apply suction, selectively, to opposite ends of the cylinder and to the interior of the ash receiving tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,108,182 Searle Feb. 15, 1938 2,185,763 De Lisle Jan. 2, 1940 2,382,354 Wales Aug. 14, 1945 2,447,364 Renshaw Aug. 17, 1948 2,650,455 Jacobsson et a1 Sept. 1, 1953 2,656,039 Leland Oct. 20, 1953 2,718,237 Matasovic Sept. 20, 1955 2,769,447 Moberg et a1 Nov. 6, 1956 

